Kucinich Focuses on Oft-Ignored Hawaii

[Freddie Stubbs]

Caucuses Give Hope for Long-Shot Win

By Rita Beamish
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, February 24, 2004; Page A11


HONOLULU, Feb. 23 -- No other Democratic presidential candidate bothered to campaign in Hawaii, but Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (Ohio) came for the second time Sunday, confident that Tuesday night's caucuses will be his strongest showing so far.

That is not a high bar for Kucinich, as his best finish to date was the 16 percent he won in Maine's caucuses. But Hawaii's low-key caucuses, typically attracting 3,000 or so participants, offer a better chance for a long shot with an energetic organizing team to compete with the front-runners.

"Don't ever sell yourself short with the power that you have. Tuesday is your turn," Kucinich told about 50 supporters who gathered at the University of Hawaii's campus in West Oahu. "People are looking for a new direction. This race is far from over. Now, granted, I'm back in the pack, but so was Seabiscuit."

The Ohio congressman's liberal message -- for gay marriage and universal health coverage and against the Iraq war and free trade treaties -- also got an enthusiastic response from more than 200 people at a downtown Honolulu theater. He wrapped up his trip with a quick stop on Maui.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A579-2004Feb23?language=printer